Car-coupling



(No Model.)

W. G. HAMILTON. OAR COUPLING.

No. 453,443. Patented June 2, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVESTON G. HAMILTON, OF DETROIT, TEXAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,443, dated June 2,1891.

Application filed February 18, 1891. Serial No. 381,917. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WESTON G. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Detroit, in the county of Red River and State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter with means for elevating the coupling-link without thenecessity of the brakeman going between the cars, and also to providemeans for holding the coupling-pin out of engagement with the link whenthe cars are uncoupled, said pin being automatically released when thecars come together, so that it will fall by gravity and engage with saidlink.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in theclaim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end viewof a portion of anordinary boxcar with my improvements applied thereto. Fig.2 is a centralsectional view of the drawhead. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same withthe top removed.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 represents the draw-head,provided with the usual flaring mouth 2, and is secured to the car inany suitable manner. This draw-head is hollow and contains areciprocating plate or bar 3, having a' projecting lug 4 at its forwardend, upon which the lower end of the coupling-pin5 rests when the carsare uncoupled, and upon its side is provided with outwardly-projectinglugs 6, which work in recesses or ways 7 in the sides of the draw-head.This plate or bar is shorter than the draw-head, and between its rearend and the end of said head is a coiled spring 8, the tendency of whichis to push the bar outward, the movement beinglimited by the lug 6striking against the ends of the ways or recesses 7. The construction ofthe bar is such that the lug 4c in its extreme forward position liesjust under the opening for the coupling-pin.

In the depending arms 9, secured to the lower part of the car, isjournaled a transverse bar 10, provided with a forwardly-extendingcurved arm 12, located directly underneath the center of the draw-head."This arm is provided with a yoke 13, which, by manipulating thetransverse bar 10, can be made to elevate the link, so as to present itto the flaring mouth of an approaching car without the necessity of thebrakeman going between the cars.

The draw-head is provided with the usual apertures 14: for the passageof the couplingpin 5. To the upper end of the couplingpin is pivoted alink 15, with which is connected the inner ends of two transverse levers16, pivoted at 16' to the car-front, and their outer ends extendingbeyond the opposite sides of the car. Connected with this link is also avertical rod 17, extending to the top of the car, so that the cars canbe uncoupled from the top.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the cars are uncoupled, the link willbe elevated and retained in such position by means of the lug 4: on theplate or bar 3, which is pushed outward by means of the coiled spring.As a car approaches to be coupled the link of said approaching car(which is engaged with the coupling-pin) will enter the mouth of thedraw-head, and, striking the front of the bar or plate 3 underneath oflug fl, will force the same back and allow the coupling-pin to drop downand be engaged with the link. The coupling-pin can be withdrawn eitherby the transverse levers or the vertical bar when it is desired touncouple ,the cars.

Having thus described myinvention, whatI claim is-.

. The combination, with the hollow drawhead having flaring mouth andaligned openings for the passage of a coupling-pin and the plate or barreciprocating therein, of the transverse bar having curved arm and yoke,

the coupling-pin having a pivoted link, the

transverse pivoted levers, and the vertical rod 5 connected with saidlink,substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WESTON G. I'IAMIL'ION.

Witnesses:

G. W. PHILLIPS, J. R. ROGERS.

